Revolving multiple burette support titration unit



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 15, 1959 w. E. GILL REVOLVING MULTIPLE BURETTE SUPPORT TITRATION UNIT Filed Aug. 16, 1956 53 Fig 52 m P m m a I i Z B m m I 0 8 w/ m a m Sept. 15, 1959 w. E. GILL 2,904,408

REVOLVING MULTIPLE BURETTE SUPPORT TITRATION UNIT Filed Aug. 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mil/am E. 617/ m2 INVENTOR.

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REVOLVING MULTIPLE BURETTE SUPPORT T i -TION UNIT This invention relates to a support and more particularly to a stand for burettes and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a stand which more conveniently supports a plurality of burettes, the stand having a revolving platform from which a plurality of arms depend, there being burette clamps on the arms holding the burettes securely, and the platform providing a support for the reagent bottles, while the base above which the platform revolves provides means on which to accommodate vessels that are used in connection with the burettes while titrating.

Another object of the invention is to provide a titrating apparatus that is easily adaptable to remote control, making it particularly useful wherever radioactive material is encountered. Moreover, the principles of the invention may be used in combination with electrometric titration units to form a more compact unit.

At the present time a considerable quantity of space is required for the chemist during titration inasmuch as the standard equipment involves 4 T-shaped burette support assemblies in addition to various shelf space to accommodate reagent bottles. Accordingly, a further object of the invention is to provide a titration unit or assembly which is labor-saving inasmuch as the chemist may sit or stand in one position and titrate from a number of different solutions by merely revolving the desired solution to its proper place; to provide a titrating assembly which is time-saving inasmuch as the chemist does not have to walk back and forth from one solution to the other, and other storage and working areas.

Occasionally, one of the practically universally used titrating supports are tilted over, which results in a loss of the solution and, in many instances, a considerable loss of time. To overcome this, a more sturdy assembly is provided, and due to its structural nature, the burette stand is practically incapable of being inadvertently tipped over. In connection with the loss of time and attendant expense, it is a further object of the invention to provide a burette stand which is not only superior insofar as practical use is concerned, but which is also more inexpensive from an initial cost standpoint and also a maintenance standpoint than presently available equipment.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings froming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational side view of a burette stand which is constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged, sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, partially in elevation and partially in section, showing the burette stand with 2,904,408 Patented Sept. 15, 1959 ice 2 the burettes and their clamps, as well as the reagent bottle and all hoses removed.

In Figure 1 there is a burette stand 10 which is constructed to exemplify the principles of the invention. This burette stand has a base 12, support 14 and a platform 16 mounted for rotation over the base 12 by means of support 14. Many of the parts of the burette stand take advantage of the rather recently developed plastic materials, being comparatively lightweight and very strong. However, the materials of construction that are finally adopted remain as a choice of engineering and economic dictates. Base 12 is broad, fiat and preferably circular, consisting of a base panel 20 with an entablature 22 functioning as a support. Vertical support 14 comprises an upstanding shaft 24 which is attached at its lower end to entablature 22. Sleeve 26 is mounted for rotation on the upper end of the column 24 and is secured to platform 16. The platform is adapted to rotate on column 24, and, therefore, a ball bearing 28 is placed in sleeve 26 and is disposed in a recess 30 at the upper end of column 24, the recess opening upwardly in order to hold the ball 28 centered. A smooth fairing 32 is on the lower end of the column 24 and rests on panel 20 of the base 12.

Platform 16 comprises a preferably circular platform panel 36 which has a flat support plate 38 connected, as by screws, to the center part of the panel 36. Ball bearing 23 seats upon plate 38 when the platform 16 is assembled on the support 14.

A cylindrical fence 40 is secured along the outer edge of platform panel 36. An inner cylindrical fence 42 is removably mounted on the platform panel 36 and is concentrically arranged with respect to outer fence 40. Fence 42 is removable to allow bottles with outlets at the bottom to be installed or removed easily. The space 44 between the fences provides an area within which to accommodate reagent bottles. Although more or less reagent bottles and burettes may be used, depending on the size of the stand and the wishes of the chemist, the illustrated form of the invention has eight burettes and eight reagent bottles 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54. Space 44 is in the form of a torus and is of a dimension to snugly and neatly accorrnnodate the eight illustrated reagent bottles. I

Inasmuch as there are eight reagent bottles provided for in burette stand 10, equal facility for burettes is connected with the stand. This means that there are four arms, three of which are illustrated at 56, 57 and 58. The upper ends of the arms are fixed to the bottom of platform panel 36, and the arms are of such length in respect to the support 14 that they terminate a con siderable distance above the base 12. Four burettev clamps 60, 61, 62 and 63 are adjustably mounted on the four arms. Each clamp is capable of supporting two burettes. Accordingly, there are burettes 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72 and 73 in the illustrated form of the invention. The burette clamps are a commercially available product, and the specific structure may be varied in accordance with the manufacturers make of burette clamp or holder that is selected. One such holder is illustrated in Patent 2,499,945, and there are others, for example one patent having issued in June of 1933 describing a very common burette clamp. Each burette is also a standard commodity of commerce, and for illustrative purposes it is preferred that the three-way stop-cock burettes be considered. Therefore, each burette has a hose, for example see hose 75 for burette 68, extending from the top end thereof to the stopper 76 of reagent bottle 52. This stopper also accomodates a valve for air intake in order to permit the solution to flow from the bottle 52. Hose 75 functions as a vent tubing, and there is a corresponding hose for each reagent bottle and its burette. 'In addition, there is a hose 78 connected to the lower part of the reagent bottle 52 and to the stop-cock 80 of burette 68. A hose guide is operatively associated with fence 40 in order to prevent the hose -75 and all other hoses which correspond thereto from becoming tangled when the platform is revolved. The hose retaining means to prevent tangling consists of an aperture 82 formed in fence 40 and having a slot 83 which opens through the top edge of the fence. Therefore, two adjacent hoses 75 and 75a are adapted to be passed through slot 83 and repose in aperture 82. Hose 78 and all those which correspond to it are also prevented from becoming tangled. The retaining means for this group of hoses consist of openings, as at 87 (Figure 4), formed in the inner fence 42 through which the hoses are passed, and apertures 88 which are formed in platform panel ,36. After passing through apertures 38, these hoses are passed through guides 90, there being one guideadjustably mounted on each arm 56, 57, 58 and the unillustrated arm which corresponds to arm 57. Guide 90 (Figure 3) comprises a plate 91 having an aperture through which arm 47 is passed and supports a set screw 92 in order to hold the plate 91 in an adjusted position on its arm 57. Another aperture 93 is formed in plate 91 and has hose 78 passed through it. After passing through guide 90, the hoses extend beneath a resilient retainer, as spring 95 which embraces the group of hoses and holds them generally assembled around support 14. Then these hoses progress through a lower group of retainers 97 that are carried by the'arms 56, 57 and 58, prior to connection to the lower stop-cocks of the three-way stop-cock burettes. By virtue of the above described construction, there is no tangling of any of the hoses when the platform is rotated with respect to base 12. Panel 20 of base 12 constitutes means on which to accommodate vessels, for example, beaker 100, for the chemists use while titrating. In order that there be sufiicient light and a proper light for this purpose, a circular gas tube 102 is mounted beneath lamp shade 104, the latter being mounted on the lower part of the support, as by being attached to the column 24 by a set screw through a flange at the top of shade 104. A light cord extends through the column 24 and base 22 and is arranged suitably to connect to a source of electrical potential. The circuit of the light 102 is such as to be appropriate for it, including a switch, starter, ballast and other electrical components which may be deemed necessaryfor proper functioning of a light. The surface of panel 20 is of the proper white brightness and reflectivity for easy detection of analytical end points.

There are provisions for a number of indicator bottles 110 on the burette stand and in a place which will be convenient to the chemist. In this regard, a holder 112 having a number of upwardly opening pockets 114 is attached to column 24 above the lamp shade 104. This locates'the indicator bottles 110 within the confines of the burettes and in such position that they cannot be inadvertently spilled, jarred or otherwise disturbed by the hoses or any other parts of the titrating assembly.

In using the burette stand, the chemist has the option of titrating from any practical number of solutions. He merely fills the reagent bottles and connects the burettes in the burette clamps and the hoses between the reagent bottles and the burettes. Then, after turning on the light, he is ready to continue his work. Everything that the chemist needs is at and within his reach and within a bare minimum of space. A solid and substantial stand is provided, making it virtually impossible for accidental spilling or disturbance of the titration once it has commenced. Moreover, provision is made for the convenient holding of samples and the acceptance of solutions from the burettes. The lighting is automatically correctly arranged, both as to intensity and direction.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A burette stand comprising a base, a platform for reagent bottles, a vertical support mounting said platform for rotation above said base, a plurality of arms depending from said platform and rotatable therewith, a burette clamp carried by each arm to support burettes generally parallel to said support and above said base on which to mount vessels beneath the burettes, an outer fence on said platform to confine the reagent bottles, hoses for operatively connecting the tops of the reagent bottles with the tops of the burettes, holders associated with said fence for the hoses, an inner fence on said platform, additional hoses for operatively connecting the bottoms of said bottles and the lower parts of the burettes, said inner fence and platform having openings through which said additional hoses are passed.

2. The burette stand of claim 1 wherein there are means on said arms to retain certain of said hoses.

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,082,304 Carry-Curry Dec. 23, 1913 2,305,892 Newman Dec. 22, 1942 2,550,701 Lardy May 1, 1951 OTHER REFERENCES Catalogue, Chemical and Physical Apparatus and Assay Goods, Eimer and Amend, N.Y., 1903, page 214, Fig. #8186.

Catalogue, Fisher Scientific Co., and Eimer and Amend, Cat. #90. Copyright 1942. Page 612, item #11-991-5.

Volumetric Analysis, second ed., 1925, by Knecht et al., page 63, Fig. 1. 

1. A BURETTE STAND COMPRISING A BASE, A PLATFORM FOR REAGENT BOTTLES, A VERTICAL SUPPORT MOUNTING SAID PLATFORM FOR ROTATION ABOVE SAID BASE, A PLURALITY OF ARMS DEPENDING FROM SAID PLATFORM AND ROTATABLE THEREWITH, A BURETTE CLAMP CARRIED BY EACH ARM TO SUPPORT BURETTES GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID SUPPORT AND ABOVE SAID BASE ON WHICH TO MOUNT VESSELS BENEATH THE BURETTES, AN OUTER FENCE ON SAID PLATFORM TO CONFINE THE REAGENT BOTTLES, 